How to Save Money Gardening

There are many ways in which gardening can save you money. There’s the obvious mark up that many grocery stores carry because they brick-and-mortar businesses with their own price points they have to meet before profit. So when you buy your produce from them you’re also paying their rent, electricity, and employees. There is also the markup from the manufacturer who’s had to package and market their product as well. Even bananas that don’t require packaging have their own ad campaign. All of that adds into the cost that you pay when purchasing your produce at the store.

A less expensive option is to buy your produce at farmer’s markets or farmstands. Buying directly from growers is a great way to save money. You don’t have to pay much extra for things that you have to pay for with big stores. There is the added time that procuring your produce this way will take though. And time does equal money as well.

As a parent who lives a consciously frugal lifestyle and also chooses quality as often as we can afford I have dabbled in growing my own food for my family. I am concerned like most parents about the content and quality of what my family eats but the cost of local and organic is sometimes out of reach. I dream of walking out to my garden and picking handfuls of veggies and herbs to sustain and nourish my family, but the reality is that I have a husband, three kids, two cats, and a household to run like a boss. I simply don’t have the space in my world to add “farmer” to my extensive homemaker resume. So unless it is pretty spelled out for me, I have a tough time figuring out if it is worth it.

In the long run, with a little hard work and research putting together a garden that can help cut food costs and save you time is well worth it. Read this article about how to start a garden for more information and ideas on how to implement this cost cutting lifesaver.

5 Tips on How to Save Money Gardening

1. Instead of buying why not try starting seeds from scratch.

2. Go to your local nursery and check if they have plastic pots or other gardening stuff that they’re giving or throwing away. You can use some to start your garden.

3. Start your garden in a small area. That way you can prepare the soil properly and you’re not wasting your resources. You can use containers or raised beds.

4. Visit your local farmers market, some may be selling fruit and veggie plants that are cheaper than buying from big stores.